Sale 1376 — The Monterey Collection of Superb United States 19th and 20th Century Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday, 22 April, 2026
Category — Postmasters' Provisionals, 1847 Issue and Reproduction
Brattleboro Vt., 5c Black on Buff (5X1). Position 1, tight but mostly clear margins, cancelled by red 13-bar grid, small part of "PAID" cancel at bottom right, repaired and stained at top left, still presentable, this is the only example of a Brattleboro provisional with the grid that is found on the 1847 Issue, it suggests that the provisional stamps and 1847s had an overlapping period of use (the same is true for the St. Louis Provisionals), we still await the day that a Postmaster's Provisional and 1847 stamp are found on the same cover, with 1958 (photocopy) and 2012 P.S.E. certificates
New York N.Y., 5c Black, "ACM" Initials (9X1). Position 36, with double transfer of top frameline, full margins all around, intense shade, small red cancel at bottom right, Extremely Fine, a very choice example, ex T. Cullen Davis ("Texas Collector", Sale 278)
New York N.Y., 5c Black, Without Signature (9X1e). Position 12, part original gum, h.r., ample even margins all around, crisp impression
VERY FINE. A RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE NEW YORK PROVISIONAL WITHOUT SIGNATURE.
A Power Search review found only one other unused example of a Without Signature stamp with original gum, and it has faults and a margin cut in. This sound example is highly desirable.
Ex Frelinghuysen. With 2012 P.F. certificate. SCV as no gum.
New York N.Y., 5c Black on Gray, Without Signature (9X3b). Position 4 with slight double transfer, large margins, distinctive "battleship gray" paper shade, red square grid cancel and trace of red circular datestamp
EXTREMELY FINE AND EXCEPTIONALLY RARE EXAMPLE OF THE UNSIGNED NEW YORK PROVISIONAL ON GRAY PAPER.
The gray paper was used late in the life of the New York provisional. The Philatelic Foundation has certified fewer than 20 gray paper stamps in total, of which only three are without the control initials. Examples on gray paper are usually cancelled by the red square grid.
Ex Dr. Morris. With 1996 and 2008 P.F. certificates.
St. Louis Mo., 5c Black on Gray Lilac (11X4). Type III, Position 5, large to huge margins, unusually deep impression, cancelled by two unobtrusive penstrokes
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. ONE OF THE FINEST KNOWN EXAMPLES OF THE 5-CENT ST. LOUIS POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL ON GRAY LILAC PAPER.
The St. Louis Bear stamps were printed from a single plate of six subjects (two horizontal by three vertical) that was modified twice to change the denominations of two positions. The original plate (First State) contained three 5c stamps at left and three 10c stamps at right. All stamps from the First State plate were printed on Greenish paper.
The plate was then altered by burnishing out the "5" on Positions 1 and 3 and engraving a new "20" denomination (Second State). A small printing on Greenish paper was made from this Second State altered plate. 5c stamps (Position 5) and 10c stamps (Positions 2/4/6) on Greenish Paper cannot usually be identified as First State or Second State impressions (the 20c on Greenish paper is a great rarity).
The larger portion of stamps from the Second State plate are on Gray Lilac paper. However, because only one of six subjects was a 5c value, the 5c on Gray Lilac is an extremely rare stamp — perhaps even rarer than the 20c on Gray Lilac. The plate was modified again by burnishing out the "20" and engraving the old "5" denomination (Third State). At the time of this second alteration, a large ball was engraved inside the end curl of the numeral "5" on Position 5. As far as we know, all stamps from the Third Plate were printed on a very thin pelure paper. These were the last stamps used before the 1847 Issue was placed on sale in St. Louis.
Ex "Vineyard" and Wall. With 1976, 1996 and 2008 P.F. certificates.
5c Brown Orange (1d). Block of four, original gum, full to large margins all around, gorgeous brilliant shade with very strong orange hue on deeply blued paper, cleaned-plate impression—now certified correctly as 5c Brown Orange, Scott 1d—exceptionally fresh, the naturally crackly gum has caused some vertical wrinkles (typical of Rawdon, Wright, Hatch & Edson gum and not noted on certificates), at one point this block was apparently kept between the pages of a book or pamphlet, resulting in faint offset of printed letters on the gum
EXTREMELY FINE FOR AN ORIGINAL-GUM MULTIPLE OF THE 1847 ISSUE. IN FACT, THIS BEAUTIFUL BLOCK OF FOUR, WITH ITS VIVID COLOR AND SOUNDNESS, IS ONE OF THE FINEST OF THE RECORDED 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE MULTIPLES. IT the ONLY ORIGINAL-GUM (OR UNUSED) BLOCK OF THE RARE SCOTT-LISTED BROWN ORANGE SHADE.
The 1847 Issue is much scarcer in unused condition than other issues, because the stamps were demonetized in 1851. They could be exchanged for the new issue, but once the exchange period ended, the stamps would have no postage value. Considering the purchasing power of five or ten cents in 1851, it is not surprising that the stamps were either used or exchanged, rather than left for future generations of collectors.
We have identified 17 unused blocks of the 5c 1847 Issue. Excluded from this tally is what might be an unused block in the Webster Knight collection at Brown University and a block of 30 which has been rumored to exist for years (if it does exist, then it becomes the largest recorded multiple).
The distinctive features of the block offered here are its vibrant color, strongly blued paper, and the "soft" but prominent background lines. The appearance of the background lines is characteristic of impressions from the cleaned plate. Having carefully studied the 5c 1847 impressions and shades in the vast Gross 1847 collection and others for several years now, we feel confident in describing the shade of this block as Brown Orange, Scott 1d. For comparison purposes, we created a digital image of the block with a superimposed (at upper left) scan of the single offered in lot 514, which has a 2007 P.F. certificate certifying it as Brown Orange, Scott 1d. If anything, the shade of the block is a more intense Brown Orange.
For the collector who wishes to own one of the finest multiples of the United States First Issue, this block represents a rare opportunity. For those who have confidence in our opinion of the color and impression, it is one of the greatest rarities in United States philately—a block of the 5c Brown Orange, Scott 1d. We record an original-gum block of the Orange Brown, Scott 1b (ex Crocker, Seymour, Bechtel, and from our 1969, 1971 and 1993 Rarities sales) and the original-gum strip of eight of a similar shade, discovered in 1970 and first offered in our 1970 Rarities sale (ex Ishikawa and Gross, Sale 1200, lot 3). The block offered here is a much more vibrant shade than the shades of the two Orange Brown multiples cited herein.
We submitted this to The Philatelic Foundation in advance of the auction and have a 2026 certificate identifying the stamps as 5c Brown Orange (Scott 1d).
Ex Hind and Hansen. With 1990, 2003 and 2008 P.F. certificates as Red Brown. With 2026 P.F. certificate as Brown Orange (Scott 1d). The Orange Brown (1b) and Brown Orange (1d) shades are not listed as unused blocks.
5c Red Brown, Ty. B Double Transfer (1-B). Positions 89-90R1, horizontal pair with right stamp 90R Type B double transfer, original gum, large to full margins, bright color and sharp intermediate impression
EXTREMELY FINE. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM PAIR OF THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE WITH THE RIGHT STAMP SHOWING DOUBLE TRANSFER OF THE TOP AND BOTTOM FRAMELINES. A GREAT RARITY.
We are aware of only two other unused examples of the 5c 1847 Type B Double Transfer, both of which are singles (one has a flaw).
Ex Frelinghuysen. With 2011 P.F. certificate. SCV as original-gum Type B Double Transfer ($50,000) and ordinary single ($6,000).
5c Red Brown (1). Unused (no gum), ample to large margins including top sheet margin, deep shade and worn-plate impression
VERY FINE UNUSED SHEET-MARGIN EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE.
With 1956, 2000 and 2008 P.F. certificates.
5c Red Brown (1). Large to huge margins, intermediate impression, rich color, red New York square grid cancel, Extremely Fine, with 2008 P.F. certificate (XF 90)
5c Red Brown (1). Large to huge margins, dark shade and early impression, light red grid cancels, Extremely Fine, with 2001 A.P.S. and 2006 P.F. certificates (XF 90)
5c Red Brown (1). Ample to huge margins, wonderful deep rich color, sharp early impression, neat red grid cancel, Very Fine and choice, ex Neinken and Goldberg, with 2007 P.F. certificate (VF 80)
5c Red Brown (1). Large margins to ample at left, early impression, rich color complemented by red New York square grid cancel, Very Fine, with 2007 P.F. certificate
5c Deep Red Brown (1 var). Horizontal pair with stitch watermark, large margins to clear, deep rich color, detailed early impression, bold strikes of black grid cancels, fresh and Very Fine, with 1985 P.F. certificate as Dark Brown (1a), with 2007 P.F. certificate as Deep Red Brown (1 var), SCV as singles
5c Brown Orange (1d). Large to ample margins, light strike of blue circular datestamp cancel, fresh and Very Fine, a beautiful stamp, with 1978 (as the old No. 1b) and 2007 P.F. certificates
10c Black (2). Original gum, lightly hinged at top, huge to large margins, detailed impression clearly showing every detail of the engraving, fresh deeply blued paper
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLES OF THE 10-CENT 1847 ISSUE IN EXISTENCE. THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST CHALLENGING STAMPS TO OBTAIN IN COMPLETELY SOUND ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION WITH FOUR LARGE MARGINS. THIS SUPERB STAMP IS A TRUE CONDITION RARITY AND A MARVELOUS EXAMPLE OF THE FIRST UNITED STATES GENERAL ISSUE.
The Act of March 3, 1847, signed by President Polk, specified that Postmaster General Cave Johnson "be authorized to prepare postage stamps, which when attached to any letter or packet, shall be evidence of the payment of the postage..." The law's effective date was July 1, and the Post Office acted immediately to secure a contract with Rawdon, Wright, Hatch and (the new partner) Edson, so that stamps could be distributed by that date. The Washington vignette is based on the iconic image painted by Gilbert Stuart.
The 1847 Issue is much scarcer in unused condition than other issues, because the stamps were demonetized in 1851. They could be exchanged for the new issue, but once the exchange period ended, the stamps would have no postage value. Considering the purchasing power of ten cents in 1851, it is not surprising that the stamps were either used or exchanged, rather than left for future generations of collectors in a hobby that did not yet exist.
With 2011 P.F. and P.S.E. certificates (OGph, XF 90). This is the highest grade awarded by P.S.E. and this stamp is the only example to achieve it.
10c Black (2). Unused (no gum), large margins, bright shade and remarkably detailed impression, light crease at right is barely evident
EXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. A BEAUTIFUL UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1847 ISSUE.
The 1847 Issue is much scarcer in unused condition than other issues, because the stamps were demonetized in 1851. They could be exchanged for the new issue, but once the exchange period ended, the stamps would have no postage value. Considering the purchasing power of ten cents in 1851, it is not surprising that the stamps were either used or exchanged, rather than left for future generations of collectors in a hobby that did not yet exist.
With 1997 P.F. certificate.
10c Black (2). Large even margins all around, bright shade and detailed impression, red New York square grid cancel
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A BEAUTIFUL USED EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1847 ISSUE, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
With 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95).
10c Black (2). Large even margins, light red St. Louis Mo. integral-rate circular datestamp leaves Washington's face essentially untouched, dark shade on bright bluish paper
EXTREMELY FINE GEM USED EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1847 ISSUE.
Ex "Scarsdale". With 1961 Hans Grobe certificate. With 2001 and 2007 P.F. certificates.
10c Black (2). Large margins, bright shade and crisp impression nicely complemented by red circular datestamp, Extremely Fine, a lovely stamp, ex Jon Rose, with 1976 P.F. certificate
10c Black (2). Position 24L, full to large margins including trace of adjoining stamp at bottom, black grid cancel, Extremely Fine, ex Wall, with 1997 P.F. certificate
5c Red Brown, Reproduction (3). Without gum as issued, full even margins, Extremely Fine, with 1997 P.F. certificate
10c Black, Reproduction (4). Without gum as issued, full margins to extra large at bottom and right, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 1996 P.F. certificate